EP2413291B1 - Device for selection of bulk mail items - Google Patents

Device for selection of bulk mail items Download PDF

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Publication number
EP2413291B1
EP2413291B1 EP10305850.9A EP10305850A EP2413291B1 EP 2413291 B1 EP2413291 B1 EP 2413291B1 EP 10305850 A EP10305850 A EP 10305850A EP 2413291 B1 EP2413291 B1 EP 2413291B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
adhesion
coefficient
selector device
mailpiece
moving
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Not-in-force
Application number
EP10305850.9A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP2413291A1 (en
Inventor
Frédéric Jost
Emmanuel Bernard
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Quadient Technologies France SA
Original Assignee
Neopost Technologies SA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Neopost Technologies SA filed Critical Neopost Technologies SA
Priority to EP10305850.9A priority Critical patent/EP2413291B1/en
Priority to US13/194,370 priority patent/US8517166B2/en
Publication of EP2413291A1 publication Critical patent/EP2413291A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP2413291B1 publication Critical patent/EP2413291B1/en
Not-in-force legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
    • G07B17/00459—Details relating to mailpieces in a franking system
    • G07B17/00467—Transporting mailpieces
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H3/00—Separating articles from piles
    • B65H3/02—Separating articles from piles using friction forces between articles and separator
    • B65H3/06—Rollers or like rotary separators
    • B65H3/063—Rollers or like rotary separators separating from the bottom of pile
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H3/00—Separating articles from piles
    • B65H3/46—Supplementary devices or measures to assist separation or prevent double feed
    • B65H3/52—Friction retainers acting on under or rear side of article being separated
    • B65H3/5207—Non-driven retainers, e.g. movable retainers being moved by the motion of the article
    • B65H3/523—Non-driven retainers, e.g. movable retainers being moved by the motion of the article the retainers positioned over articles separated from the bottom of the pile
    • B65H3/5238—Retainers of the pad-type, e.g. friction pads
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2404/00—Parts for transporting or guiding the handled material
    • B65H2404/50—Surface of the elements in contact with the forwarded or guided material
    • B65H2404/53—Surface of the elements in contact with the forwarded or guided material with particular mechanical, physical properties
    • B65H2404/531—Surface of the elements in contact with the forwarded or guided material with particular mechanical, physical properties particular coefficient of friction
    • B65H2404/5311—Surface with different coefficients of friction
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2701/00—Handled material; Storage means
    • B65H2701/10—Handled articles or webs
    • B65H2701/19—Specific article or web
    • B65H2701/1916—Envelopes and articles of mail

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to the field of mail processing and more particularly relates to a mail item selection device implemented in an automatic feeder module, or feeder, a postage meter franking machine.
  • a franking machine must be adapted to receive different types of mail items such as documents, folds or envelopes having greater or lesser thicknesses, typically from 0.1 mm to 20 mm.
  • an automatic feeding module for conveying these mail items at different speeds and comprising means for receiving, selecting, transporting and possibly closing these items. mail.
  • An automatic feeder comprising a selection module having a double-die structure particularly adapted to the passage of mail items of different thicknesses and making it possible to very greatly limit the double passes which are highly detrimental since they entail both a billing charge. (weighing two items instead of one) of one of the two mail items, a postage of the article underneath and a non-closing of the article from above, the mail items of large thickness, and more particularly those with windows, risking moreover being damaged or torn.
  • the present invention aims to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks by proposing a postage meter selection device for postage meter feeder particularly suitable for processing mail items of varying sizes and formats.
  • said at least one of said plurality of movable pads of said first die may be coated over substantially its entire height with an elastomeric material having a variable coefficient of adhesion which is increasing from top to bottom said variation of the coefficient of adhesion can then be obtained by varying the thickness of said elastomeric material or by modifying the surface state of said elastomeric material or be comprising a flexible comb-shaped plate disposed in front of said first die, the teeth of said comb being formed of a low coefficient of friction material, said at least one of said plurality of movable pads of said first die on which is flattened in part the tooth facing it during the passage of said mail items being coated over substantially its entire height with an elastomeric material having a high coefficient of adhesion.
  • said elastomeric material is a polyurethane and said flexible plate is made of polycarbonate covered with polyethylene.
  • said elastomeric material having a high coefficient of adhesion has a symmetrical structure allowing a reversal of the position of said movable pad.
  • the selection device further comprises a second die formed by a plurality of movable shoes cooperating with a plurality of opposite selection belts.
  • the invention also relates to a mailing machine feeder for mailing machines comprising a device for selecting said mail items.
  • An automatic mail supply module conventionally comprises a feed zone formed essentially of a tray intended to receive a pile of mail items and comprising first means of transport (rollers or belts) for driving these items of mail.
  • first means of transport rollers or belts
  • Second transport means are generally provided at the exit of this separation zone for conveying the mail articles thus extracted downstream.
  • FIGS. 1 to 3 show more specifically a device according to the invention for separating mail items 10 which essentially comprises a first die (called pre-selection die 12) mounted above a support plate 14 forming the transport path of the mail items followed by a second die (said selection die 16) cooperating with a plurality of adjacent and opposite selection belts 18A, 18B, 18C to select a mail item and a single one and carry it downstream.
  • pre-selection die 12 mounted above a support plate 14 forming the transport path of the mail items followed by a second die (said selection die 16) cooperating with a plurality of adjacent and opposite selection belts 18A, 18B, 18C to select a mail item and a single one and carry it downstream.
  • the first die 12 is articulated around an axis of rotation 20 and can pivot against an elastic return means, for example the torsion spring 22, during the passage of mail items. .
  • the second die 16 can move vertically under the action of an arm 24 which can pivot about an axis of rotation 26 against a means of resilient return, for example the compression spring 28, one end of which is supported on a frame portion 30 of the selection device.
  • the vertical displacement of this second die is guided in translation by an axis 32A of a support arm 32 of the rollers 34A, 34B, 34C which moves in a slot 36A of a connecting arm 36 of the second die.
  • the axis of rotation 26 of the second die is offset upstream with respect to the axis of rotation of the first die.
  • At least one and preferably two of the pads 12A, 12B of the first die are coated with an elastomeric material 38A, 38B having a variable coefficient of adhesion. More particularly, the coefficient of adhesion increases from top to bottom, the upper part of the pad provided with this coating having a low coefficient of adhesion and the lower part having a high coefficient of adhesion.
  • the third pad 12C, the furthest away from a referencing wall 40 of the mail items, which is active only for large mail items is devoid of such a coating.
  • the pads of the second die 16 are also provided with such a coating with a high coefficient of adhesion (not referenced but visible on the figure 1 ).
  • this variation of the coefficient of adhesion of the pads of the first die is obtained simply by the addition of a flexible plate 42 in the form of a comb in front of the first die 12, the teeth of this comb formed of a material to low coefficient of friction then facing the different pads of the first and second dies, at least one and preferably two of the pads 12A, 12B of the first die on which will be pressed the tooth or teeth facing them during the passage of articles of mail being then coated uniformly (so with a constant thickness) of an elastomeric material having a high coefficient of adhesion.
  • the flexible plate comb 42 comprises four teeth 42A, 42B, 42C, 42D, so that only the four pads (two pads 12A, 12B of the first die and two pads 16A, 16B of the second die) closest to the reference wall 40 are preceded by these teeth formed of a low coefficient of friction material. Because of the shift of the first and second dies, the teeth 42A, 42C facing the second die 16 are longer than those 42B, 42D facing the first die 14 and may optionally be preformed (see FIG. figure 1 ). This material is preferably polycarbonate coated with polyethylene to increase the gliding effect. As in the first embodiment, the pads of the second die 16 are also provided with such a coating of an elastomeric material with a high coefficient of adhesion.
  • the operation of the selection device is as follows.
  • the mailpieces to be treated being placed on the tray of the feed device, the envelopes of small thickness, that is to say the thickness of which is less than 2 mm, and the standard thickness envelopes is ie whose thickness is between 2 and 6mm, will first of all come into contact with the lower part of the skates of the first die and will therefore be subject to a significant effort due to the high coefficient of adhesion present in this lower zone of the pad, which will avoid a double pass. However, if such a double pass occurs despite everything, the second die will then extract the envelope from below.
  • the thicker envelopes will for their part come into contact with the upper part of the pads of the first die whose coefficient of adhesion is lower, so that the retaining force of this pad on the envelopes will be significantly reduced, which will avoid the jamming of these thick envelopes.
  • the contact with the low adhesion portion of the pads of the first die will be made either directly with the elastomer material of the pad (first embodiment of the invention).
  • figure 2 with the tooth with a low coefficient of friction (mode of figure 3 which will then cover this material and will then perform the same function.
  • the other teeth positioned in front of the pads of the second die simply provide a plating of the mail items against the selection belts and, in the case where two articles would present, a function of retaining the article of the top which slides on the article from below, the article below being then driven by the selection belts.
  • the processing of bulk mail is greatly improved and it becomes possible to select the mail items very efficiently by avoiding all double feeds and jams in the feeder.
  • the periods of unavailability of the feeder are reduced.

Description

Domaine de la techniqueField of the art

La présente invention se rapporte au domaine du traitement de courrier et elle concerne plus particulièrement un dispositif de sélection d'articles de courrier mis en oeuvre dans un module d'alimentation automatique, ou alimenteur, d'une machine à affranchir les articles de courrier.The present invention relates to the field of mail processing and more particularly relates to a mail item selection device implemented in an automatic feeder module, or feeder, a postage meter franking machine.

Art antérieurPrior art

Classiquement, une machine à affranchir doit être adaptée pour recevoir différents types d'articles de courrier tels que des documents, plis ou enveloppes présentant des épaisseurs plus ou moins importantes, typiquement de 0,1 mm à 20 mm. Pour cela, elle dispose souvent, disposé en amont, d'un module d'alimentation automatique permettant le convoyage de ces articles de courrier à différentes vitesses et comportant des moyens pour la réception, la sélection, le transport et éventuellement la fermeture de ces articles de courrier.Conventionally, a franking machine must be adapted to receive different types of mail items such as documents, folds or envelopes having greater or lesser thicknesses, typically from 0.1 mm to 20 mm. For this, it often has, arranged upstream, an automatic feeding module for conveying these mail items at different speeds and comprising means for receiving, selecting, transporting and possibly closing these items. mail.

On connaît ainsi un alimenteur automatique comportant un module de sélection ayant une structure à double filière particulièrement adaptée au passage d'articles de courrier de différentes épaisseurs et permettant de limiter très fortement les doubles passages qui sont forts préjudiciables car entraînant à la fois une sur facturation (pesée de deux articles au lieu d'un seul) de l'un des deux articles de courrier, un non affranchissement de l'article du dessous et une non fermeture de l'article du dessus, les articles de courrier de forte épaisseur, et plus particulièrement ceux à fenêtres, risquant en outre d'être endommagés ou déchirés.An automatic feeder is thus known, comprising a selection module having a double-die structure particularly adapted to the passage of mail items of different thicknesses and making it possible to very greatly limit the double passes which are highly detrimental since they entail both a billing charge. (weighing two items instead of one) of one of the two mail items, a postage of the article underneath and a non-closing of the article from above, the mail items of large thickness, and more particularly those with windows, risking moreover being damaged or torn.

Or, dans le traitement d'articles de courrier en vrac (mixed mail), c'est-à-dire au sein desquels se succèdent des formats et des épaisseurs différents, les efforts à appliquer sur les articles de courrier ne sont pas les mêmes. En effet, pour les articles de courrier de faible épaisseur, typiquement inférieure à 6mm, cet effort doit être important pour limiter le nombre de doubles passages vers la machine à affranchir alors qu'il peut être faible pour les articles de courrier de plus forte épaisseur. DE19913974 résout en partie cette question.However, in the treatment of mixed mail items, that is to say in which successive formats and thicknesses succeed, the efforts to be applied to the mail items are not the same. . Indeed, for thin mail items, typically less than 6mm, this effort must be important to limit the number of double passes to the franking machine while it may be low for mail items of greater thickness . DE19913974 partially resolves this question.

Objet et définition de l'inventionObject and definition of the invention

La présente invention a pour but de pallier les inconvénients précités en proposant un dispositif de sélection d'articles de courrier pour alimenteur de machine à affranchir particulièrement adapté au traitement d'articles de courrier de formats et d'épaisseurs variables.The present invention aims to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks by proposing a postage meter selection device for postage meter feeder particularly suitable for processing mail items of varying sizes and formats.

Ces buts sont atteints par un dispositif de sélection d'articles de courrier selon la revendication 1.These objects are achieved by a mail item selection device according to claim 1.

Par cette structure spécifique des patins pouvant présenter un coefficient d'adhérence variable sur leur hauteur, il est possible de traiter successivement les articles de forte ou de faible épaisseur d'une même pile d'articles de courrier sans risque de doubles passages. La qualité de sélection des articles de forte épaisseur est ainsi améliorée car moins sujette à des bourrages.By this specific structure of the pads that can have a variable coefficient of adhesion on their height, it is possible to successively treat the articles of high or low thickness of the same stack of mail items without the risk of double passes. The quality of selection of thick articles is thus improved because less subject to jams.

Selon le mode de réalisation envisagé, ledit un au moins de ladite pluralité de patins mobiles de ladite première filière peut soit être revêtu sur sensiblement toute sa hauteur d'un matériau élastomère ayant un coefficient d'adhérence variable qui va en augmentant de haut en bas, ladite variation du coefficient d'adhérence pouvant alors être obtenue en faisant varier l'épaisseur dudit matériau élastomère ou en modifiant l'état de surface dudit matériau élastomère ou soit comporter une plaque flexible en forme de peigne disposée en avant de ladite première filière, les dents dudit peigne étant formés d'un matériau à faible coefficient de friction, ledit un au moins de ladite pluralité de patins mobiles de ladite première filière sur lequel vient se plaquer en partie la dent lui faisant face lors du passage desdits articles de courrier étant revêtu sur sensiblement toute sa hauteur d'un matériau élastomère ayant un coefficient d'adhérence élevé.According to the embodiment envisaged, said at least one of said plurality of movable pads of said first die may be coated over substantially its entire height with an elastomeric material having a variable coefficient of adhesion which is increasing from top to bottom said variation of the coefficient of adhesion can then be obtained by varying the thickness of said elastomeric material or by modifying the surface state of said elastomeric material or be comprising a flexible comb-shaped plate disposed in front of said first die, the teeth of said comb being formed of a low coefficient of friction material, said at least one of said plurality of movable pads of said first die on which is flattened in part the tooth facing it during the passage of said mail items being coated over substantially its entire height with an elastomeric material having a high coefficient of adhesion.

De préférence, ledit matériau élastomère est un polyuréthane et ladite plaque flexible est constituée d'un polycarbonate recouvert de polyéthylène.Preferably, said elastomeric material is a polyurethane and said flexible plate is made of polycarbonate covered with polyethylene.

Avantageusement, ledit matériau élastomère ayant un coefficient d'adhérence élevé présente une structure symétrique permettant une inversion de la position dudit patin mobile.Advantageously, said elastomeric material having a high coefficient of adhesion has a symmetrical structure allowing a reversal of the position of said movable pad.

De préférence, le dispositif de sélection comporte en outre une seconde filière formée par une pluralité de patins mobiles coopérant avec une pluralité de courroies de sélection opposées.Preferably, the selection device further comprises a second die formed by a plurality of movable shoes cooperating with a plurality of opposite selection belts.

L'invention concerne également un alimenteur en articles de courrier pour machine à affranchir comportant un dispositif de sélection d'articles de courrier précité.The invention also relates to a mailing machine feeder for mailing machines comprising a device for selecting said mail items.

Brève description des dessinsBrief description of the drawings

D'autres caractéristiques et avantages de la présente invention ressortiront mieux de la description suivante, faite à titre indicatif et non limitatif, en regard des dessins annexés, sur lesquels:

  • la figure 1 est une vue en coupe longitudinale d'un module d'alimentation comportant un dispositif de sélection d'articles de courrier selon l'invention,
  • la figure 2 est une vue de face montrant les première et seconde filières dans un premier mode de réalisation du dispositif de sélection de la figure 1, et
  • la figure 3 est une vue de face montrant les première et seconde filières dans un second mode de réalisation du dispositif de sélection de la figure 1.
Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will emerge more clearly from the following description, given by way of non-limiting indication, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:
  • the figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a feed module comprising a device for selecting mailpieces according to the invention,
  • the figure 2 is a front view showing the first and second dies in a first embodiment of the selection device of the figure 1 , and
  • the figure 3 is a front view showing the first and second dies in a second embodiment of the selection device of the figure 1 .

Description détaillée d'un mode de réalisation préférentiel de l'inventionDETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

Un module d'alimentation automatique en articles de courrier comporte classiquement une zone d'alimentation formée essentiellement d'un plateau destiné à recevoir une pile d'articles de courrier et comportant des premiers moyens de transport (rouleaux ou courroies) pour entraîner ces articles de courrier vers l'aval (et contre une paroi de mise en référence) au niveau d'une zone de séparation comportant un dispositif de séparation dans lequel ces articles de courrier sont extraits un par un de la pile d'articles. Des seconds moyens de transport (rouleaux ou courroies) sont en général prévus en sortie de cette zone de séparation pour convoyer les articles de courrier ainsi extraits vers l'aval.An automatic mail supply module conventionally comprises a feed zone formed essentially of a tray intended to receive a pile of mail items and comprising first means of transport (rollers or belts) for driving these items of mail. mail downstream (and against a referencing wall) at a separation area having a separation device in which these mail items are extracted one by one from the stack of articles. Second transport means (rollers or belts) are generally provided at the exit of this separation zone for conveying the mail articles thus extracted downstream.

Les figures 1 à 3 montrent plus précisément un dispositif selon l'invention de séparation d'articles de courrier 10 qui comporte essentiellement une première filière (dite filière de pré-sélection 12) montée au dessus d'une plaque support 14 formant le chemin de transport des articles de courrier, suivie par une seconde filière (dite filière de sélection 16) coopérant avec plusieurs courroies de sélection adjacentes et opposées 18A, 18B, 18C pour sélectionner un article de courrier et un seul et le transporter vers l'aval.The Figures 1 to 3 show more specifically a device according to the invention for separating mail items 10 which essentially comprises a first die (called pre-selection die 12) mounted above a support plate 14 forming the transport path of the mail items followed by a second die (said selection die 16) cooperating with a plurality of adjacent and opposite selection belts 18A, 18B, 18C to select a mail item and a single one and carry it downstream.

Dans l'exemple illustré, la première filière 12 est articulée autour d'un axe de rotation 20 et peut pivoter à l'encontre d'un moyen de rappel élastique, par exemple le ressort de torsion 22, lors du passage des articles de courrier. Quant à elle, la seconde filière 16 peut se déplacer verticalement sous l'action d'un bras 24 qui peut pivoter autour d'un axe de rotation 26 à l'encontre d'un moyen de rappel élastique, par exemple le ressort de compression 28, dont une extrémité est en appui sur une partie de bâti 30 du dispositif de sélection. Le déplacement vertical de cette seconde filière est guidé en translation par un axe 32A d'un bras 32 de support des rouleaux 34A, 34B, 34C qui se déplace dans une lumière 36A d'un bras de liaison 36 de cette seconde filière. On notera que l'axe de rotation 26 de la seconde filière est décalé vers l'amont par rapport à l'axe de rotation 20 de la première filière.In the illustrated example, the first die 12 is articulated around an axis of rotation 20 and can pivot against an elastic return means, for example the torsion spring 22, during the passage of mail items. . As for it, the second die 16 can move vertically under the action of an arm 24 which can pivot about an axis of rotation 26 against a means of resilient return, for example the compression spring 28, one end of which is supported on a frame portion 30 of the selection device. The vertical displacement of this second die is guided in translation by an axis 32A of a support arm 32 of the rollers 34A, 34B, 34C which moves in a slot 36A of a connecting arm 36 of the second die. It will be noted that the axis of rotation 26 of the second die is offset upstream with respect to the axis of rotation of the first die.

Comme il est connu, les première et seconde filières 12, 16 ne sont pas disposées perpendiculairement au chemin de transport des articles de courrier mais inclinées vers l'aval d'environ 45°. Elles sont chacune constituées de plusieurs patins, trois dans l'exemple illustré, les trois patins 16A, 16B, 16C de la seconde filière étant disposés au dessus des trois courroies de sélection 18A, 18B, 18C alors que les trois patins 12A, 12B, 12C de la première filière sont disposés entre ces courroies de sélection au dessus de la plaque support 14 (voir les figures 2 et 3).As is known, the first and second dies 12, 16 are not arranged perpendicularly to the transport path of mail items but inclined downstream of about 45 °. They each consist of several pads, three in the illustrated example, the three pads 16A, 16B, 16C of the second die being disposed above the three selection belts 18A, 18B, 18C while the three pads 12A, 12B, 12C of the first die are arranged between these selection belts above the support plate 14 (see FIG. figures 2 and 3 ).

Selon un premier mode réalisation de l'invention illustré à la figure 2, au moins un et de préférence deux des patins 12A, 12B de la première filière est revêtu d'un matériau élastomère 38A, 38B ayant un coefficient d'adhérence variable. Plus particulièrement, le coefficient d'adhérence va en augmentant de haut en bas, la partie haute du patin muni de ce revêtement possédant un coefficient d'adhérence faible et la partie basse un coefficient d'adhérence élevé. Le troisième patin 12C, le plus éloigné d'une paroi de mise en référence 40 des articles de courrier, qui n'est actif que pour les articles de courrier de grandes largeurs étant dépourvu d'un tel revêtement. Les patins de la seconde filière 16 sont quant à eux également pourvu d'un tel revêtement à fort coefficient d'adhérence (non référencés mais visibles sur la figure 1). Le matériau élastomère de revêtement de la première filière est de préférence un polyuréthane dont l'épaisseur varie (plus cette épaisseur est importante plus le matériau se déformera et maximisera le contact avec l'article) et va croissant du haut (environ 2 mm) au bas du patin (environ 4 mm). Il peut s'agir également d'un polyuréthane uniforme d'épaisseur constante ayant subit un traitement de surface pour assurer cette variabilité de rugosité de haut en bas (plus la surface est granuleuse moins le contact avec l'article sera important). Le matériau élastomère peut être directement collé sur le patin ou de préférence clispé sur celui-ci de façon à en permettre facilement le remplacement une fois usé.According to a first embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. figure 2 at least one and preferably two of the pads 12A, 12B of the first die are coated with an elastomeric material 38A, 38B having a variable coefficient of adhesion. More particularly, the coefficient of adhesion increases from top to bottom, the upper part of the pad provided with this coating having a low coefficient of adhesion and the lower part having a high coefficient of adhesion. The third pad 12C, the furthest away from a referencing wall 40 of the mail items, which is active only for large mail items is devoid of such a coating. The pads of the second die 16 are also provided with such a coating with a high coefficient of adhesion (not referenced but visible on the figure 1 ). The elastomeric coating material of the first die is preferably a polyurethane whose thickness varies (the greater the thickness, the more the material will deform and maximize the contact with the article) and increases from the top (about 2 mm) to bottom of the pad (about 4 mm). It can also be a uniform polyurethane of constant thickness having undergone a surface treatment to ensure this roughness variability from top to bottom (the more the surface is granular minus the contact with the article will be important). The elastomeric material may be directly adhered to the pad or preferably clipped thereon so as to easily allow replacement once worn.

Selon un second mode réalisation de l'invention illustré à la figure 3, cette variation du coefficient d'adhérence des patins de la première filière est obtenue simplement par l'adjonction d'une plaque flexible 42 en forme de peigne en avant de la première filière 12, les dents de ce peigne formés d'un matériau à faible coefficient de friction faisant alors face aux différents patins des première et seconde filières, au moins un et de préférence deux des patins 12A, 12B de la première filière sur lequel viendra se plaquer la ou les dents leur faisant face lors du passage des articles de courrier étant alors revêtus de façon uniforme (donc avec une épaisseur constante) d'un matériau élastomère ayant un coefficient d'adhérence élevé. Il est important de noter que ce plaquage doit avoir pour effet de ne masquer qu'en partie seulement le patin de sorte à créer la différence d'adhérence souhaitée, faible en partie haute (par le contact avec la dent à faible coefficient de friction) et élevée en partie basse (par le contact avec la partie de patin non recouverte à fort coefficient d'adhérence).According to a second embodiment of the invention illustrated in figure 3 this variation of the coefficient of adhesion of the pads of the first die is obtained simply by the addition of a flexible plate 42 in the form of a comb in front of the first die 12, the teeth of this comb formed of a material to low coefficient of friction then facing the different pads of the first and second dies, at least one and preferably two of the pads 12A, 12B of the first die on which will be pressed the tooth or teeth facing them during the passage of articles of mail being then coated uniformly (so with a constant thickness) of an elastomeric material having a high coefficient of adhesion. It is important to note that this plating must have the effect of only partially masking the pad so as to create the desired difference in adhesion, low in the upper part (by contact with the low coefficient of friction tooth) and raised in the lower part (by contact with the uncoated skid portion with a high coefficient of adhesion).

Plus précisément, dans l'exemple illustré, la plaque flexible formant peigne 42 comportent quatre dents 42A, 42B, 42C, 42D, de sorte que seuls les quatre patins (deux patins 12A, 12B de la première filière et deux patins 16A, 16B de la seconde filière) les plus proches de la paroi de mise en référence 40 sont précédés par ces dents formés d'un matériau à faible coefficient de friction. De fait du décalage des première et seconde filières, les dents 42A, 42C faisant face à la seconde filière 16 sont plus longues que celles 42B, 42D faisant face à la première 14 et peuvent éventuellement être préformées (voir la figure 1). Ce matériau est de préférence un polycarbonate recouvert de polyéthylène pour en augmenter l'effet de glisse. Comme dans le premier mode de réalisation, les patins de la seconde filière 16 sont également pourvus d'un tel revêtement en un matériau élastomère à fort coefficient d'adhérence.More specifically, in the example shown, the flexible plate comb 42 comprises four teeth 42A, 42B, 42C, 42D, so that only the four pads (two pads 12A, 12B of the first die and two pads 16A, 16B of the second die) closest to the reference wall 40 are preceded by these teeth formed of a low coefficient of friction material. Because of the shift of the first and second dies, the teeth 42A, 42C facing the second die 16 are longer than those 42B, 42D facing the first die 14 and may optionally be preformed (see FIG. figure 1 ). This material is preferably polycarbonate coated with polyethylene to increase the gliding effect. As in the first embodiment, the pads of the second die 16 are also provided with such a coating of an elastomeric material with a high coefficient of adhesion.

On notera que le matériau élastomère uniforme à coefficient d'adhérence élevé présente de préférence une structure symétrique permettant une inversion de la position du patin de façon à en doubler la durée de vie (le patin usé est alors retourné).Note that the uniform elastomeric material with high adhesion coefficient preferably has a symmetrical structure allowing a reversal of the position of the pad so as to double the life (the worn pad is then returned).

Le fonctionnement du dispositif de sélection selon l'invention est le suivant. Les articles de courrier à traiter étant disposés sur le plateau du dispositif d'alimentation, les enveloppes de faible épaisseur, c'est-à-dire dont l'épaisseur est inférieure à 2mm, et les enveloppes d'épaisseur standard, c'est-à-dire dont l'épaisseur est comprise entre 2 et 6mm, vont tout d'abord entrer en contact avec la partie basse des patins de la première filière et seront donc soumis à un effort important du fait du fort coefficient d'adhérence présent dans cette zone basse du patin, ce qui évitera un double passage. Toutefois, si un tel double passage se produit malgré tout, la seconde filière permettra alors l'extraction de l'enveloppe du dessous. Par contre, au delà de ce second seuil, les enveloppes plus épaisses vont pour leur part entrer en contact avec la partie haute des patins de la première filière dont le coefficient d'adhérence est plus faible, de sorte que l'effort de retenue de ce patin sur les enveloppes sera notablement réduit, ce qui évitera le bourrage de ces enveloppes épaisses.The operation of the selection device according to the invention is as follows. The mailpieces to be treated being placed on the tray of the feed device, the envelopes of small thickness, that is to say the thickness of which is less than 2 mm, and the standard thickness envelopes is ie whose thickness is between 2 and 6mm, will first of all come into contact with the lower part of the skates of the first die and will therefore be subject to a significant effort due to the high coefficient of adhesion present in this lower zone of the pad, which will avoid a double pass. However, if such a double pass occurs despite everything, the second die will then extract the envelope from below. On the other hand, beyond this second threshold, the thicker envelopes will for their part come into contact with the upper part of the pads of the first die whose coefficient of adhesion is lower, so that the retaining force of this pad on the envelopes will be significantly reduced, which will avoid the jamming of these thick envelopes.

Selon le mode de réalisation considéré, le contact avec la partie à faible coefficient d'adhérence des patins de la première filière se fera soit directement avec le matériau élastomère du patin (premier mode de la figure 2) soit avec la dent à faible coefficient de friction (mode de la figure 3) qui viendra alors recouvrir ce matériau et assurera alors la même fonction. Les autres dents positionnées devant les patins de la seconde filière assurent simplement un plaquage des articles de courriers contre les courroies de sélection et, dans le cas où deux articles se présenteraient, une fonction de retenue de l'article du dessus qui glisse sur l'article du dessous, l'article du dessous étant alors entrainé par les courroies de sélection.According to the embodiment considered, the contact with the low adhesion portion of the pads of the first die will be made either directly with the elastomer material of the pad (first embodiment of the invention). figure 2 ) with the tooth with a low coefficient of friction (mode of figure 3 which will then cover this material and will then perform the same function. The other teeth positioned in front of the pads of the second die simply provide a plating of the mail items against the selection belts and, in the case where two articles would present, a function of retaining the article of the top which slides on the article from below, the article below being then driven by the selection belts.

Ainsi, avec la présente invention, le traitement des courriers en vrac est grandement amélioré et il devient possible de sélectionner les articles de courrier très efficacement en évitant tous les doubles passages et bourrages dans l'alimenteur. Les périodes d'indisponibilité de l'alimenteur sont ainsi réduites.Thus, with the present invention, the processing of bulk mail is greatly improved and it becomes possible to select the mail items very efficiently by avoiding all double feeds and jams in the feeder. The periods of unavailability of the feeder are reduced.

Claims (10)

  1. A mailpiece selector device comprising at least a first guide (12) that is mounted above a support plate (14) forming the transport path of said mailpieces, and that is made up of a plurality of moving shoes (12A, 12B, 12C) for selecting said mailpieces one-by-one and for transporting them downstream along a referencing wall (40), characterized in that the moving shoe that is furthest away from said referencing wall does not have a coating having a varying coefficient of adhesion, and each of the other moving shoes has a varying coefficient of adhesion that increases going towards said support plate, the top portion of said moving shoe having a low coefficient of adhesion and the bottom portion having a high coefficient of adhesion.
  2. A mailpiece selector device according to claim 1, characterized in that said other moving shoes are coated over substantially all of their height with an elastomer material of varying coefficient of adhesion that increases going towards said support plate.
  3. A mailpiece selector device according to claim 2, characterized in that said variation in the coefficient of adhesion is obtained by causing the thickness of said elastomer material to vary.
  4. A mailpiece selector device according to claim 2, characterized in that said variation in the coefficient of adhesion is obtained by modifying the surface state of said elastomer material.
  5. A mailpiece selector device according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises a flexible plate (42) in the form of a comb disposed in front of said first guide, the teeth (42A, 42B, 42C, 42D) of said comb being made of a material having a low coefficient of friction and, while said mailpieces are passing through, coming to be pressed in part against said other moving shoes that are facing them and that are coated over substantially all of their height with an elastomer material having a high coefficient of adhesion, such that the set so formed by said moving shoes coated by said teeth of the flexible plate has said varying coefficient of adhesion.
  6. A mailpiece selector device according to claim 5, characterized in that said flexible plate is made of a polycarbonate coated with polyethylene.
  7. A mailpiece selector device according to claim 2 or claim 5, characterized in that said elastomer material is a polyurethane.
  8. A mailpiece selector device according to claim 5, characterized in that said elastomer material having a high coefficient of adhesion has a symmetrical structure making it possible for the position of said moving shoe to be inverted.
  9. A mailpiece selector device according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises a second guide (16) that is mounted above said support plate for supporting said mailpieces, and that is made up of a plurality of moving shoes (16A, 16B, 16C) co-operating with a plurality of opposite selection belts (18A, 18B, 18C).
  10. A mailpiece feeder for a franking machine including a mailpiece selector device according to any one of claims 1 to 9.
EP10305850.9A 2010-07-30 2010-07-30 Device for selection of bulk mail items Not-in-force EP2413291B1 (en)

Priority Applications (2)

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EP10305850.9A EP2413291B1 (en) 2010-07-30 2010-07-30 Device for selection of bulk mail items
US13/194,370 US8517166B2 (en) 2010-07-30 2011-07-29 Mailpiece selector device for selecting mixed mailpieces

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP10305850.9A EP2413291B1 (en) 2010-07-30 2010-07-30 Device for selection of bulk mail items

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EP2413291B1 true EP2413291B1 (en) 2013-10-23

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DE202016106124U1 (en) 2016-11-01 2016-11-17 Francotyp-Postalia Gmbh separating station
EP3489177A1 (en) * 2017-11-22 2019-05-29 Frama AG Device for the separation of mail items fed by a franking machine on a processing line

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US4312503A (en) * 1980-05-27 1982-01-26 Xerox Corporation Spring-loaded friction retard separator
US4606535A (en) * 1984-11-30 1986-08-19 The Mead Corporation Sheet feeding device
FR2640602B1 (en) * 1988-12-20 1991-06-07 Alcatel Business Systems FLAT ITEM DEPLOYER
US4991831A (en) * 1989-08-14 1991-02-12 Green Ronald J Paper sheet feeding apparatus
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JP3448097B2 (en) * 1994-05-19 2003-09-16 ブラザー工業株式会社 Paper feeder
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JP3757928B2 (en) * 2002-10-31 2006-03-22 ブラザー工業株式会社 Paper feed separation mechanism and paper feed device having paper feed separation mechanism
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US20120090955A1 (en) 2012-04-19
US8517166B2 (en) 2013-08-27

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